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[UCL]

Does anyone have any beta on the current conditions in the Convict Canyon area, in particular, Red Slate?

Thinking of hitting RSC next weekend, so wanted to start assembling info. Little concerned about hard windslabs given the current weather reports. Is the couloir pretty protected from the wind?

Thanks in advance.
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[UCL]

Just wanted to bump this for some info. Thinking of skinning into Convict this weekend for an overnighter, conditions/weather depending.

A buddy is going to boot up Red Slate on Saturday and ski the N. Couloir. I am not feeling up to it (a little out of my paygrade at this point), so I will likely chill and watch the ascent, and maybe dig some pits, etc.. while waiting below. Once he is out, I will likely ski the west slopes a bit just to have made some turns that day.

Question: Does anyone have any info on Mt. Baldwin? We are thinking of hitting that on Sunday. I have seen the topo, but I am unclear where the descent is. It appears you skin/hike the mellow NW ridge and there is a N couloir that is relatively short and not too steep (35 degrees) entering a snow-field.

Thanks.
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[rod9301]

Couloir is North facing, but kind of wide, so the wind does affect it. But sometimes I hardd you can find soft snow on one side or the other.

I am thinking of going there myself soon.
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[UCL]

[tarkman1]

Red Slate? I'd count the couloir being very wind affected. Serious, the winds on Mammoth a week ago Monday were sustained 70+ at the summit for hours and hours. Red Slate is higher. I skied some shots off the Baldwin cirque (from McGee Canyon not Convict) yesterday. The chute was mixed between windboard, breakable crust, and some pockets of powder.

Check the TR on from Emerson (Zebra or north coulie). The conditions seemed much the same.

Oh, bring your ski crampons. You'll need them skinning. For Red Slate, I'd say climb the couloir. That traverse from the summit to the couloir is probably sketch given the state of the snow and Red Slate's elevation.

I'll try to post a picture that I took from Bloody looking up Convict Canyon. I think I know the couloir on Baldwin that has your interest.

Saturday should be warm. Sunday could be a storm. I'd say find some corn and let the storm freshen up the couloir.

[UCL]

Thanks Tark. Weather reports are not looking too promising - seems it may storm this weekend.

If you have time to post that pic of the Baldwin chute, that would be very helpful.
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[tarkman1]

UCL...check your inbox at TGR. I put up some pix on photobucket. Those along with a topo should give you a good idea of the route and objective.

[jimw]

In case it's useful, here's another data point. Powerhouse off Dana Plateau sucked on Saturday. It was absolutely bulletproof, all the way up. Easily the worst conditions I've ever ridden in there. Here's what Tim thought of conditions that day:



I would think that Red Slate is even more exposed. Seems like a long way to go for likely marginal conditions (at least until/if we get some more snow).

Then again, maybe you'll score thigh-deep blower pow and we'll all be jealous!

[UCL]

Tark - thanks for those pics. Good beta for the future. Agree conditions/forecast is not looking too promising.

Jim - that pic gets the point across

Although the storm this weekend will likely put a hold on this trip, hopefully it brings some good accumulation down in the Eastside to replenish some of the conditions.
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[divisadero]

***. (AKbruin/Frank here.)

Might Pinner be better? At least we wouldn't get lost in the couloir. But I have my concerns about the snow quality.

Second option was going to be Dana Plateau, maybe Coke chute. But that doesn't sound too promising either.

Any other Eastside couloir options?

[jf]

We were up in Little Slide Canyon last weekend, winds were pretty tough and anything not protected was heavily wind scoured. However we found some fantastic less-than-chalky pow in protected zones, about halfway up Jah Bless Couloir and lookers right of Hulk, which is pretty far up into the rock and well protected. However ran into some guys that went for the lookers left Hulk couloir and said it was bulletproof which i guess is notorious for getting more worked over by wind and sun.

Those winds were definitely blowing, stay in well protected zones.

[UCL]

Thanks to all. Based on the info here, other 1st hand info and weather forecasts, we are pulling the plug. Not optimal conditions now, and will only be deteriorating.

Will be there another time.
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